Stream acidification and base cation losses with grassland afforestation

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133720.pdf (366.18 KB)

Date

2008

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Publisher

American Geophysical Union

Abstract

To investigate the biogeochemical and hydrological consequences of land use change, stream water was sampled in paired watersheds in Uruguay and Argentina. Where both pines and eucalypts were planted nearby, eucalyptus showed a stronger acidifying effect than pine. At test sites, Ca, Mg, and Na concentrations were >30% lower in afforested soils than in grassland soils, and pH was significantly lower below 10 cm depth. Stream measurements taken over three years illustrate that these soil changes were also manifested in stream water chemistry. The data suggests that repeated harvesting could negatively impact the soil store of base cations and reduce downstream water quality.

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Keywords

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, AFFORESTATION, GRASSLANDS, GROUNDWATER HYDROLOGY, LAND USE CHANGE, URUGUAY, ARGENTINA, ACIDIFICATION, SOIL CHEMISTRY, WATER CHEMISTRY, PINES, EUCALYPTUS

Citation

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10625/47369

DOI

Collections

IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2000-2009 / Années 2000-2009
Latin America and the Caribbean / Amérique latine et Caraïbes
Research Results (CCW) / Résultats de recherches (CCE)
Water and Agriculture / Eau et agriculture
Water Governance and Management / Gouvernance et gestion de l’eau